oxidation

noun

ox·​i·​da·​tion ˌäk-sə-ˈdā-shən 

1

: the act or process of oxidizing

2

: the state or result of being oxidized

oxidative

ˈäk-sə-ˌdā-tiv 

adjective

oxidatively adverb

Examples of oxidation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One study found that drinking oolong tea helped increase fat oxidation by 20% within 24 hours of consumption. —Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2025

Coffee The caffeine in coffee increases fat oxidation at rest and during low- to moderate-intensity exercise. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 25 Sep. 2025

Unlocking zinc-air potential Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) are metal-air electrochemical cells powered by the oxidation of zinc with oxygen from the air. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025

Burnished oxblood red, with patches of green oxidation, the sculpture was fished out of the Adriatic in the nineteen-sixties. —Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from oxider, oxyder to oxidize, from oxide

First Known Use

1745, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing oxidation

• beta-oxidation
• oxidation-reduction
• oxidation state
• re-oxidation

Rhymes for oxidation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

oxidation

noun

ox·​i·​da·​tion ˌäk-sə-ˈdā-shən 

1

: the process of oxidizing

2

: the state or result of being oxidized

oxidative

ˈäk-sə-ˌdāt-iv 

adjective

Medical Definition

oxidation

noun

ox·​i·​da·​tion ˌäk-sə-ˈdā-shən 

1

: the act or process of oxidizing

2

: the state or result of being oxidized